Blog - The Purbottar

27 Jan

Air India introduces AI-driven eZ booking for seamless reservations

Business BureauBusiness

Air India has launched its groundbreaking AI-powered eZ Booking feature, promising a faster and more intuitive reservation experience for Maharaja Club loyalty program members. The feature, available on Air India’s website, eliminates complex navigation, allowing users to book tickets effortlessly by speaking or typing their travel needs. The innovative eZ Booking employs ‘Agentic AI,’ mimicking human travel agents by understanding natural language inputs and generating customized itineraries. Users can modify or finalize their plans with minimal commands, making the process seamless. “eZ Booking showcases our commitment to enhancing customer experience with intelligent digital solutions,” said Dr. Satya Ramaswamy, Chief Digital…

27 Jan

Indian Oil Q3 Earnings Preview | Dramatic increase in profit expected after weak Q2

Priyanka RoyBusiness, News

Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) Ltd will announce its third quarter earnings for the financial year 2024-25 on January 27. Analysts expect a sharp jump in profits, mainly due to the weak performance in the previous quarter (Q2 FY25). What to expect Profit jump: IOC is expected to report a profit of ₹6,140 crore, a significant rise from just ₹180 crore in Q2 FY25. Revenue growth: Revenue is estimated to grow 11% to ₹1.92 lakh crore compared to ₹1.74 lakh crore in the previous quarter. EBITDA improvement: Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) is estimated to increase from ₹3,772…

25 Jan

ICICI Bank Q3 results preview: Net profit may rise 10%, asset quality likely to remain stable

Priyanka RoyBusiness, News

ICICI Bank is set to announce its financial results for the October-December quarter (Q3FY25) on Saturday, January 25. Analysts expect the bank to report a healthy rise in profit on the back of strong loan growth and stable asset quality. According to a CNBC-TV18 poll, ICICI Bank's profit after tax (PAT) is expected to rise 10.3% to reach ₹11,332.7 crore compared to ₹10,271.6 crore in the same period last year. Meanwhile, the bank's net interest income (NII) is estimated to reach ₹20,461.4 crore from ₹18,678.6 crore in Q3FY24. The bank's asset quality is likely to remain stable. Brokerage firm Motilal…

24 Jan

Sackler Family and Purdue Pharma Reach $7.4 Billion Opioid Settlement

Deep Editormedicine

The Sackler family and Purdue Pharma have reached a tentative agreement to pay a total of $7.4 billion to settle lawsuits related to their role in the U.S. opioid crisis. The Sacklers will contribute up to $6.5 billion, while Purdue Pharma will provide nearly $900 million. This settlement comes after the U.S. Supreme Court rejected a previous deal due to its provision granting the Sacklers immunity from future lawsuits. The funds will be distributed to states, local governments, and individuals affected by the opioid crisis, which claimed over 81,000 lives in 2023 alone. The Sacklers will pay the settlement over…

24 Jan

Severe Storms Batter South Burnett Region with Heavy Rain and Hail

Deep Editorweather

On Thursday afternoon, the South Burnett region in Queensland experienced severe storms that led to flash flooding, fallen trees, hail, strong winds, and intense lightning. The supercell storm began around 4:30 PM after a hot day, with Proston recording the heaviest rainfall—79mm in just one hour—and hailstones measuring up to 3cm. Over a 24-hour period, the area accumulated a total of 99mm of rain. Kingaroy experienced wind gusts reaching 67 km/h, while more than 280,000 lightning strikes were recorded around Nanango and 300,000 around Gayndah. The severe weather caused power outages affecting over 2,000 properties, with 245 in the South…

24 Jan

NHC Foods records 384% profit growth in Q3-FY25, eyes expansion

Business BureauBusiness

NHC Foods Limited, a leading exporter of spices and agricultural commodities, has reported a remarkable 384% growth in net profit for Q3-FY25, reaching ₹208.33 lakh compared to ₹43.03 lakh in the same period last year. Revenue for the quarter surged 58% to ₹7,352.97 lakh, driven by robust domestic and international demand. For the nine months ending December 31, 2024, net profit soared by 384% to ₹614.30 lakh, while revenue climbed 64% to ₹21,420 lakh, surpassing the company’s total FY24 profits. The performance underscores NHC Foods’ resilience and growth amid a challenging market landscape.To bolster growth, the company is investing in…

24 Jan

Flipkart teams up with ITI Kalyani to strengthen supply chain workforce

Business BureauBusiness

Flipkart, a leading player in India’s e-commerce sector, has partnered with the Industrial Training Institute (ITI) Kalyani, West Bengal, to establish a Center of Excellence (CoE) lab under its Supply Chain Operations Academy (SCOA). The initiative, outlined in a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA), aims to equip youth with industry-relevant skills for supply chain operations, addressing the growing demand in the e-commerce ecosystem. The CoE lab will provide free training, certifications, and a 45-day On-The-Job-Training (OJT) or Industry Exposure (IE) program at Flipkart facilities. SCOA’s curriculum covers key roles, including Picker, Putter, Packer, and Data Entry Operator. In 2024 alone, SCOA…

24 Jan

Prior to Dibrugarh’s Republic Day festivities, security was increased

Banasree SarkarAssamRepublic Day

Dibrugarh has increased security in anticipation of Republic Day. Every security agency is on high alert and making sure everything is in order for Republic Day to be celebrated in a calm and orderly manner. Rakesh Reddy, the superintendent of police for Dibrugarh, said, "We are ready for the Republic Day celebration. At the Dibrugarh district's entry and departure points, there have been night patrols and round-the-clock naka checks. Our police team is working with all security forces and agencies to prevent any potential disaster." In the meantime, the police are clearing out abandoned cars from marketplaces, bus stations, national…

24 Jan

Flipkart and APFBC join hands to empower Assam’s entrepreneurs through e-commerce

Business BureauBusiness

Flipkart, in collaboration with the Assam Project on Forests & Biodiversity Conservation (APFBC), hosted an orientation workshop focused on empowering self-help groups (SHGs) and cluster level federations (CLFs). The event, held at Aranya Bhawan, introduced participants to Flipkart’s 'Samarth' program, which aims to provide entrepreneurs with digital tools and PAN-India market access. Attendees, including artisans and weavers, gained insights on product listing and online business strategies. The workshop emphasized training and logistics support for sellers. Mr. Rajneesh Kumar, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer of Flipkart, highlighted the initiative's goal to foster economic opportunities and digital inclusivity for underserved communities. Launched in…

24 Jan

“Assam set to become India’s next powerhouse”: Himanta Biswa Sarma

Deep EditorAssam

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who is attending the second edition of the business summit Advantage Assam in Japan, said that the state is set to become India's next powerhouse. The Assam CM, who met over 80 business leaders, mentioned that Assam's target is to take the state gross state domestic product (GSDP) to USD 143 billion by 2030. He also stated that the state has received the "highest ever" investment of USD 4 billion in 2024. "During my interaction with over 80 business leaders, I conveyed our target to take Assam's GSDP to USD 143 billion by 2030,"…